Bell curve and bipolar opposition. Changes of political attitudes in contemporary societies

Abstract

For many decades after II World War the differentiation of political standpoints and attitudes in modern societies could be described according to a normal curve (bell curve). But for several years this interpretation has become inadequate because of the increasing polarization of political preferences in contemporary societies, leading to bipolar opposition inside them. The explanation of this change by economical agents is not satisfying, because similar processes have been noticed in many societies quite different from the economic standpoint. The reason of social polarization and bipolar opposition is cultural one and reflecting tension between tradition and innovation, especially in the age of globalization, escalating this process.